Edward Fitzpatrick: Table set for pledge on outside spending

Common Cause Rhode Island is offering its headquarters for a summit in which Democratic candidates for governor could negotiate a “People’s Pledge” aimed at curtailing big spending by independent groups.

Granted, no one would mistake it for a summit site such as Reykjavík or Camp David. But Common Cause Rhode Island is offering its modest Providence headquarters for a summit in which the major Democratic candidates for governor could negotiate a “People’s Pledge,” aimed at curtailing big spending by independent groups such as super-PACs.

“We have a beautiful 10-seat vinyl-veneer conference table with enough seats for all the candidates and their super-PACs,” Common Cause Rhode Island executive director John M. Marion said after tweeting a photo of the table.

Or perhaps the campaign teams can work out a deal on Twitter, since that seems to be where the discussion is taking place. On Tuesday, Democratic General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo, who’s running for governor, tweeted: “Today is the 4th anniv of the disastrous Citizens United decision. We need a strong People’s Pledge to keep all outside $ out of this race.”

That stood in contrast to Raimondo’s response in October, when Democratic Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, who’s now running for governor, proposed a pledge similar to one used in the Elizabeth Warren/Scott Brown Senate race. A Raimondo spokesman called Taveras’ proposal a “charade,” saying “union leaders and special interests are already funding personal attacks” on her. He said she’d consider the pledge when Taveras donated to Crossroads RI the amount that unions paid Ted Siedle for a report blasting the Raimondo-led pension overhaul.

That was never going to happen. And a super-PAC is backing Raimondo. So the pledge seemed DOA. But Raimondo began saying she was open to the pledge idea. And on Wednesday, Raimondo campaign manager Eric Hyers said, “This is something we very much want. Citizens United is a disastrous decision that threatens to undermine our very democracy.”

Taveras campaign manager Danny Kedem said, “We’re glad Gina Raimondo doesn’t think it’s a charade anymore.” But, he said, “Tweeting is not the solution. You have a People’s Pledge modeled on Elizabeth Warren’s pledge right in front of you that would keep super-PAC money out of Rhode Island. Let’s sign it today.”

Hyers said that next week, after Democrat Clay Pell is expected to enter the race, “we’ll sit down together and try to come to an agreement that’s strong and doesn’t have any loopholes. We hope the mayor treats this pledge a little better than his previous campaign finance pledges. He has already broken his pledge not to take donations from city vendors, and it’s been reported he’s considering reversing his pledge not to take money from city employees.”

If Raimondo signed the pledge, she’d presumably lose the American LeadHERship super-PAC as a weapon. But she’d still enjoy a big fundraising advantage, including out-of-state money given directly to her campaign. She’d neutralize one line of attack as she emphasizes progressive policies in a primary. And she’d head off the possibility of a big union-backed independent expenditure.